ATL95FA090

Several minutes into the flight, the airplane was seen by witnesses in what they described as a spiral. The airplane collided with the ground and burned. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane was scattered over an area 40 feet wide and 75 feet long. The airplane sat in an upright position, and the ground around it showed no evidence of forward or lateral post impact aircraft movement. The engine examination revealed that the number one fuel injector nozzle was blocked. No other system problems were noted during the wreckage examination.

History of flight

On April 26, 1995, at 1749 central daylight time, a Charles Axell Glasair RG-2 experimental aircraft, N86XL, collided with the ground while maneuvering near Elberta, Alabama. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces, and a post-impact fire; the private pilot and his pilot rated passenger were fatally injured.

According to the co-owner of N86XL, he estimated that the flight departed Ferguson Field at 1730, after the pilot refueled the airplane with ten gallons of aviation fuel. The co-owner was not aware of the pilot's flight intentions, but stated this was the passenger's first flight in N86XL.

Several minutes into the flight witnesses, in the vicinity of the accident site, reported hearing the aircraft engine sputter several times. Another witness observed the airplane in a spiral like maneuver prior to the impact with the ground. One witness also heard a thud, and noticed black smoke northeast of his position, in the vicinity of the accident site.

Personnel information

Information on the pilot is included in this report at the data field labeled "First Pilot Information". The private pilot's flight logs were not recovered.

Aircraft information

Information on the aircraft is contained in this report at the data field labeled "Aircraft Information". The aircraft maintenance logs review revealed that during the last annual inspection, metal shavings were detected on the engine oil screen.

Meteorological information

Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Weather information is contained in this report at the data field labeled "Weather Information".

Wreckage and impact information

Examination of the accident site revealed that wreckage debris was scattered over an area 40 feet wide and 75 feet long. The airplane collided with the ground in a near flat attitude and showed no signs of additional movement after the initial impact. All debris from the aircraft was located in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. Fire destroyed the airframe cockpit and center sections. The fire damage extended outboard the entire length of the wing assembly, and fore and aft from the nose section through the empennage. The engine accessary section also sustained fire damage which resulted in the destruction of all installed components.

Examination of the airframe and flight control systems failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Steel and composite material flight control components were located at the accident site in the vicinity of their normally installed positions.

The engine and propeller assemblies were attached to the airframe. The engine examination revealed that the number one fuel injector nozzle was blocked; the other fuel injector nozzles were clear. The remainder of the engine examination failed to reveal an additional malfunction or component failure. The propeller assembly was attached at its normally installed position. The propeller blades were not damaged.

Medical and pathological information

The postmortem examination of the private pilot was performed by Dr. James C. Downs on April 27, 1995, at the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Mobile, Alabama. The cause of death was multiple trauma. During the toxicological examinations, 20.400 (ug/ml,ug/g) of salicylate was detected in the blood sample.

Additional information

The aircraft wreckage was released to: Mr. A Frank Shields (Co-owner N86XL) 33525 Sunset Ave Lillan, Alabama